Ex oriente lux"? The genesis of the chariot in the light of the latest archeology data
This paper explores the problem of origin of chariot complex in Eurasia versus the Near East. After careful examination of the results of radiocarbon dating in both regions, we came to the idea that there are no facts that would challenge the possibility of the northern origin. From our point of view, the discussion of this problem has its roots in the psychology of the western scholars, including the Russian ones, who used to believe that only civilized communities of Mesopotamia were able to create and maintain chariots. This paper aims to review two main hypotheses on the origin of the chariot complex of the Bronze Age. The alternatives are either area within the Fertile Crescent or the steppes of Inner Eurasia. The southern version originates from the Gordon V. Childe's "Ex Oriente Lux" concept, who believed that in the antiquity this region was a source of social, economic and technological innovations. It is easy to believe because a rich and diverse list of sources is available. It includes depictions of actual vehicles, textual data, and artifacts themselves. In the steppes, evidences are different, and include a larger number of vehicles, parts of the bridle, sacrificed horses, and petro-glyphs with chariots depicted. The argument for the Middle East version boils down to a thesis about the high technological level of innovation and, consequently, the necessity of organization of production. A long history pf evolution of wheeled vehicles in this zone have also been mentioned. Objections to the steppe origin of chariots include difficulties in their practical use in the steppe and forest-steppe, redundancy as a means of warfare and differences in the parameters of the steppe and Middle Eastern specimens. However, none of these points can be taken as absolute, especially, if considered in the details. In this regard, the detailed chronology plays a crucial role. A correct comparison can be carried out only for the systems of radiocarbon chronology. Importantly, for Mesopotamia and Egypt, they are also linked to the traditional historical chronologies. Recent studies suggest that the "long" chronological system is the most statistically significant. The chronology indicates a lack of reliable data in favor of the priority of the Middle East in the invention of chariots. The most famous examples of texts, artifacts and images refer to much later periods than the III-II millennium BC. This, along with a long independent history of the development of wheeled vehicles in the steppe and with the argument for domestication of a horse in the same zone, makes the possibility of the appearance of a chariot complex in the steppes more than plausible. The chariot complex can serve as a vivid example of the creation of outstanding technological innovations among an early complex society without full development of a state.
Keywords
бронзовый век,
колесничный комплекс,
государство,
хронология,
Bronze Age,
state, chariot complex,
Northern Eurasia,
chronologyAuthors
| Epimakhov Andrey V. | Institute of History and Archaeology; South Ural State National Research University | epimakhovav@susu.ru |
| Chechushkov Igor V. | University of Pittsburgh, Department of Anthropology | chivpost@gmail.com |
Всего: 2
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